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ABRAHAM GESNER, OF HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA.

MANUFACTURE OF ILLUMINATING-GAS FROM BITUMEN.

To all whom may concern Be it known that I, ABRAHAM GESNER, of Halifax,in the Province of Nova Scotia, have discovered a new and useful art-theobtaining of illuminating gas from compact and fluid bitumen, asphaltum,chapapote, or mineral pitch as found in mines, quarries and springs inthe earth-by which a new hydrocarbon and a new manufacture in gas areproduced.

My discovery consists in having obtained from compact and fluid bitumen,asphaltum, chapapote and mineral pitch, a new illuminating gas, which idenominate kerosene gas. This gas differs from all Vother illuminatinggases; for as the bitumen contains no sulfur nor nitrogen, it is freefrom sulfureted hydrogen, sulfurous acid, sulfocyanogen, cyanogen,ammoniacal gas and azote, and its relative quantities of carbon andhydrogen differ from those of the gases heretofore used for the purposesof illumination. y

To enable others skilled in the art of making gas to use and employ mydiscovery, I will proceed to describe in what manner its advantages areto be obtained. Although t-he gas might be made with t-he ordinary gasapparatus used for resin, oil, &c., yet from the volatility of thematerials I have found it better to subject it at first to a moderateheat by a device found below which shall first convert it to vapor andthen forcing the vapor into a second retort kept at a high red heat thematerial is converted into an excellent illuminating gas. In describingthe process vtherefore we say The gas may be obtained in the same manneras coal gas but for reasons stated I prefer that the bitumen, orasphaltum be introduced into the retort in an iron case, having anopening in its upper side, one third of its length and one half of itsdiameter, to allow the gas to escape freely, and which may be withdrawnand charged at pleasure. In its passage from the retort to the condenserand gasometer, the gas must be passed through a tube, of length anddiameter proportionate to the dimensions of the retort, and placed atsuch a distance from it in t-he furnace, that while the bitumen is beingvolatilized the tube, or second retort may be held at a bright red heat.The tube is to be filled with charcoal or coke and. quicklime or burntclay; by

passing through it t-he volatile parts of the bitumen,- asphaltum, ormineral pitch become more highly carbonized and all are better adaptedfor the purposes of affording light, thus,

The gas from the character of the materials to be used requires amodified apparatus, of which the following description and theaccompanying drawings and references will serve to explain.

Figure l represents a vertical section of the furnace, retort, tube ersecond retort, and case for holding the bitumen, &c.

A is the body of the furnace; B, the main, or upper retort; C, the casecontaining the bitumen; D, the tube, or second retort containing thecharcoal, coke, quicklime or burnt clay; E, the connecting pipe; F, thegas pipe leading to the condenser and gasometer; g, fuel door; 7L, ashpit door; c' i, retort heads; j, the chimney; a a, the. fuel chamber.

lVhat l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentisl. The use of compact and fluid bitumen, asphaltum, chapapote, ormineral pitch for the production of illuminating gas to be substitutedfor other materials now in use.

2. I also claim the retort B B in combinatibn with its movable case C inthe manner and for the purposes setforth.

ABRAHAM GESNER. Witnesses:

SAMUEL TRUMAN, GEO. B. STORM.

